[.ca] Satanic Rites of Dracula

From Amazon.co.uk:
The Satanic Rites of Dracula--the final film in which Christopher Lee played Dracula--is a bleak, even poignant affair. The vampire and his adversary Lorimer Van Helsing reach the end of the line amidst the desolate, rain-streaked concrete city scapes of the early 1970s. Dracula has, it seems, allowed his contempt for humanity to reach its logical conclusion: no longer content with drinking blood, he has gathered together a group of scientists and created a plague which will eradicate all life on earth. This quasi-medical plot admits a certain element of Avengers-style techno-kitsch--all the more uncanny, then, that Joanna Lumley here takes over Stephanie Beacham's role as Van Helsing's grand-daughter Jessica--yet it's all off-white enamel and Formica rather than lights and dials. There is an extraordinary scene in which Dracula, masquerading as a property tycoon, is confronted by Van Helsing in his office. He is no longer the brooding, elemental figure of yore, but instead lurks in the shadows behind his desk, having become little more than a shifty businessman, while Van Helsing seems to realise that the two of them are nothing more than tired old men fighting a battle which has become meaningless. Fascinatingly odd. The video comes with some nice behind-the-scenes fact cards. --Roger Thomas

Stay away from this turkey!:
Not worth watching unless you like silliness. Dracula gets hold of a viral plague that can wipe out the Earth's population? So, if he unleashes this plague, who's going to be left for him to feed on? Dracula belongs in the 1800's, not the 20th century. Even having Professor Van Helsing in this film does not help matters. Thank goodness Christopher Lee knew what he was doing when he decided to not make another of these movies. It was time to hang it up for sure. An all-time Hammer turkey to avoid all together.

SLOOOOOOOW MOVING:
It's London in the 1970's, and Scottish Yard investigators think they have undiscovered a case of vampirism. Unbelievable, it becomes terribly apparent that the culprit may be none other than dracula him self, secretly plotting to unleash a fatal virus upon the world. this movie is only 87 minutes and it seems like it takes at least 4 hours to end! this movie makes no sense and the only reason why i gave it 2 stars is because it has vampires in it!

If You Can't Be Good Be Very, Very Bad:
This is it, the very last Christopher Lee as Dracula film to appear in the U.S. Take Dracula, biological warfare, political plots, Satan worship, and biker gangs. Mix them together with limp writing, stilted acting, and painful music and you get quintessential 1970's kitsch. While few of the Lee/Cushing films will ever be dramatic masterpieces, this is possibly the worst of the bunch. It is very definitely the worst horror film I've ever seen. But that's really the point, isn't it. Christopher Lee has built a career out of a toothy grin and 20 lines per film. Peter Cushing is the archetypical overly serious destroyer of creatures of the darkness. We watch them to laugh at our own fears, not to dwell on them. The kind of film watching that is best as a group of friends watching the movie as they chat and make fun of it. A true cultural ritual. The only painful part of the film is watching a pair of actors who have brought much entertainment to the world at what is very clearly the end of their careers. Somehow, you have to think that they deserve better than this. Old, tired and totally typecast, it would have been nice to have their last film be something more meaningful. Oh well, I did like the biker's sheepskin jackets.

Dracula is really dead or is trying to be:
This has to be the worst of the Lee-Cushing Hammer Draculas. One has to wonder if they had a film - lame - and they said - HEY lets put Lee in his cape in here and we will make money. Idiots! Sorry, I love Lee, Cushing and the other Dracula films but Hammer was in it for the bucks here and nothing else. The fact it was released under various titles tells you something, Satanic was one, but there was "Dracula is Dead and Well and Living in London" or uninspired "Count Dracula and his Bride". I mean that is ALL they could come up with? Sequel to A.D., charming Joanna Lumley takes over from Stephanie Beacham as Van Helsing's granddaughter. Cushing is back as well. So bad it's sort of good...lol. Count Dracula decides to wipe out mankind with a super-plague so he can finally die? Well, I am sure they thought it sounded good on paper. Of interest to Lee-Cushing fans, but others will yawn.

Dracula at his worst?:
Hammer films is famous for producing some of the most effective vampire films ever. This, however, is not one of them. Our protaganist this time around centers himself amidst a group of supposed witches in a coven. One finds out shortly what the purpose of this group is for and what Dracula intends to use their services for. In short, this makes for a very poor plot and low budget effects, we only see Dracula approach one female victim and even then we are spared the horror of her fate. For reasons that are only purley historical was this released on DVD. Hammer fans will be disappointed by this installment, and one can see why that studio shortly thereafter ceased making films.